The Late Mrs. Null eBook

was certainly a good match for Annie; and, although
she hated to have anything to do with Midbranch, it
could not be a bad thing for Junius to be master of
that large estate, and that Mr Brandon had repeatedly
declared he would be, if he married Roberta.
Thus, in the midst of these reverses, there was something
to comfort her, and reconcile her to them. But
there was no balm for the wound caused by Mr Brandon’s
success and her failure.

With the letter of Junius open in her hand, she sat,
for a long time, in bitter meditation. At length
a light gradually spread itself over her gloomy countenance.
Her eyes sparkled; she sat up straight in her chair,
and a broad smile changed the course of the wrinkles
on her cheeks. She arose to her feet; she gave
her head a quick jerk of affirmation; she clapped
one hand upon the other; and she said aloud:
“I will bless, not curse!”

And with that she went happy to bed.

CHAPTER XXIX.

On the following Monday, Lawrence announced that his
ankle was now quite well enough for him to go to New
York, where his affairs required his presence.
Neither he, nor the late Mrs Null, regarded this parting
with any satisfaction, but their very natural regrets
at the necessary termination of these happy autumn
days were a good deal tempered by the fact that Lawrence
intended to return in a few weeks, and that then the
final arrangements would be made for their marriage.
It was not easy to decide what these arrangements would
be, for in spite of the many wrongnesses of the old
lady’s head and heart, Annie had conceived a
good deal of affection for her aunt, and felt a strong
disinclination to abandon her to her lonely life, which
would be more lonely than before, now that Junius
was to be married. On the other hand, Lawrence,
although he had discovered some estimable points in
the very peculiar character of Mrs Keswick, had no
intention of living in the same house with her.
This whole matter, therefore, was left in abeyance
until the lovers should meet again, some time in December.

Lawrence and Annie had desired very much that Junius
should visit them before Mr Croft’s departure
for the North, for they both had a high esteem for
him, and both felt a desire that he should be as well
satisfied with their matrimonial project as they were
with his. But they need not have expected him.
Junius had conceived a dislike for Mr Croft, which
was based in great part upon disapprobation of what
he himself had done in connection with that gentleman;
and this manner of dislike is not easily set aside.
The time would come when he would take Lawrence Croft
and Annie by the hand, and honestly congratulate them,
but for that time they must wait.